Driving Differences: Jordan vs. Panama for Safe Travel
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and driving practices between Jordan and Panama. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and vehicle documentation requirements. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring safe travels and navigating the roads confidently, whether you're in the bustling streets of Amman or the vibrant avenues of Panama City.
Lanes
| Jordan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the roadway. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No specific bus lanes | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses share lanes with other vehicles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited; primarily in urban areas. | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicular traffic. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Cycle symbols where applicable. | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
jordan:
Marks the edge of the roadway.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
jordan:
Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
jordan:
No specific bus lanes
panama:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
jordan:
Buses share lanes with other vehicles.
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
jordan:
N/A
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
jordan:
Limited; primarily in urban areas.
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
jordan:
Shared with vehicular traffic.
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
jordan:
Cycle symbols where applicable.
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
jordan:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
jordan:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Jordan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50-60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 25-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; common. | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
jordan:
50-60 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
jordan:
40 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
jordan:
70-90 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
jordan:
70-90 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
jordan:
80-100 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
jordan:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
jordan:
Yes; common.
panama:
Common
Signals
| Jordan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not typically used | Not used in Panama |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | To avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
jordan:
Not typically used
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Allowed
jordan:
To avoid accidents
panama:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
jordan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
jordan:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Jordan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Generally not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
jordan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
panama:
Generally not allowed
Documentation
| Jordan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspections required | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
jordan:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
jordan:
International Driving Permit required
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
jordan:
Annual inspections required
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
jordan:
Recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Jordan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use is common | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
jordan:
Moderate use is common
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
jordan:
Pull over and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Jordan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common at checkpoints | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
jordan:
0.05%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
jordan:
0.00%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
jordan:
0.00%
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
jordan:
Common at checkpoints
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
jordan:
Can be substantial
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Jordan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
jordan:
911
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
jordan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
jordan:
Recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Jordan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, occasionally | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
jordan:
Varies; fines can be substantial
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
jordan:
Fines apply
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
jordan:
Fines apply
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
jordan:
Fines apply
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
jordan:
Yes, occasionally
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
jordan:
Typically 30 days to pay
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay